Gary Sandberg plans to run for 1st District council seat

Gary Sandberg is running for another term on the Peoria City Council. But this time, he's taking a different route.

Nick Vlahos

Gary Sandberg is running for another term on the Peoria City Council. But this time, he's taking a different route.

The longtime council member, who currently fills an at-large seat, has filed his intention to run for election next year as 1st District representative. His candidacy there, affirmed at the filing deadline Monday, sets up a three-way primary race that includes businesswoman Denise Moore and U.S. Postal Service employee Randall Emert.

It also set up some bewilderment for the other two candidates in that primary, set for Feb. 26.

"As an at-large councilman, he can weigh in on issues in the 1st District, so I'm just a little puzzled," Moore said Tuesday. "As long as he has input, I'm not sure why he's making the move he's making."

Said Emert: "I don't understand the whole point of his running for this. I tend to smell a rat someplace, but I can't prove it. I'm completely surprised and shocked about it."

Following the City Council meeting Tuesday night, Sandberg said his reasons for running in the 1st District are much less nefarious than Emert appeared to suggest.

"Because that's where I live," Sandberg said.

Indeed, the 23-year councilman produced a voter registration card that lists his address as 1213 SW Adams St., in the 1st District.

Sandberg said his son, who lives in Macau, and daughter purchased the property over the summer. It's intended to be home for Sandberg's son when he's in the United States, according to the councilman.

But Sandberg said he's been moving his personal items there from his 2nd District residence, at 1810 N. Bigelow St. His pet macaw, Jellybean, remains at the Bigelow address, Sandberg said.

"This is a family project," he said about the Adams Street property. "This is where I'm living, and the first floor is (our) playhouse."

Above Sandberg's new home, on a block filled with vacant buildings, hangs the sign that heralds its one-time occupant - Advance Shade and Blind. Placed in the old storefront windows are assorted items Sandberg said belong to him or his son: an old steering wheel; books; a steamer trunk.

The previous owner of the property, Sue Johnson, confirmed the Sandbergs' purchase, although the sale has not yet been filed with the Peoria County recorder of deeds. The property is zoned for commercial use, but because it's located in the Warehouse District, it can be used as a residence, according to city officials.

The Warehouse District is among the reasons Sandberg said he decided to run for the council seat being relinquished by Clyde Gulley. The general election is April 9.

"I'm a total supporter of the Warehouse District, but I think it's gone astray," Sandberg said without elaboration. "I'm going to try to get it back on track."

He also said his experience as a councilman from the 2nd District, which he represented prior to his at-large run, can help 1st District residents form strong neighborhood alliances.

"I can focus all my attention on that district," Sandberg said. "I think the 1st is the most critical district in Peoria, and if we continue to foul it up, we'll have one less solution for Peoria's future."

Moore appears to share Sandberg's enthusiasm about the district, but she also appears to consider him an interloper.

"The 1st District is on the edge of being the go-to place people want to be around," said Moore, who cited the newly opened Peoria Riverfront Museum, among other places. "But I kind of feel like Gary is jumping on the bandwagon now, wanting to ride that wagon to wherever he thinks it might take him."

When first notified about Sandberg's decision, Emert said he was upset. Now, he said, he welcomes the competition.

Although after Emert said that Tuesday, it sounded as if he still was smarting.

"I don't understand why he feels he had to move for his concerns about the Warehouse District," Emert said. "Sitting as an at-large vote, he'd have the same interest.

"I don't think a lot of people are going to buy him moving in and saying, 'I'm here to represent you.'"

Nick Vlahos can be reached at 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @VlahosNick. Andy Kravetz contributed to this story.